Objective.
To determine the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in animals used to produce foods in the Americas.
Method.
A systematic literature review was performed in the following databases: Scopus, Web of Science, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Virtual Health Library. Articles published in the past 10 years, without language limits, were selected. The outcome of interest was the prevalence of MRSA in food-producing animals. Prevalence rates were meta-analyzed in grouped random effects models using the DerSimonian and Laird method. The geographic distribution of MRSA and the time trend of resistance were also analyzed.
Results.
Of 19 studies included, 11 were performed in the United States and 11 analyzed pig samples. Five studies were performed in South America. The samples analyzed in the studies were collected in farming, processing, and retail sites. MRSA prevalence in the Americas was 7.6% (95%CI: 5.6-9.5%), and was higher in pigs [12.6% (95%CI: 7.0-18.2%)] followed by bovine cattle [2.4% (95%CI: 1.2-3.7%)] and poultry [1.8% (95CI%: 0.3-3.4%)]. MRSA prevalence was higher in pigs in North America and bovine cattle in Latin America.
There was no significant variation in MRSH prevalence along the 10-year period analyzed.
Conclusions.
MRSA prevalence in food-producing animals in the Americas was higher in pigs, without significant changes across time.